In the end, Emory had just enough to overtake Christopher Newport in the 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11 marathon.

"We watched a lot of game film on them and we knew that Christopher Newport (Hampton Roads, Va.) was a great team," Emory coach Jenny McDowell said. "They play a very different style than us so we tried to prepare for that."

In set one, the Newport trio of Kara Elder, Bailey Jenson and Caitlyn Jansen recorded three blocks as the Captains stayed one step ahead of Emory (Atlanta).

Caitlyn Jansen capped a three-point run with a kill to put the Captains up 21-17 and from there the team rolled.

Set two was a different story as the Eagles led most of the way.

A pair of Breanah Bourque kills extended Emory's lead to 18-10 and she added her fourth and final kill of the game.

Newport played catch-up in the third set and came close before Emory prevailed 25-23.

Jessica McAlvany had six kills in the set but none were bigger than the shot she delivered to put the Eagles up 24-22.

In the fourth set, Emory jumped to leads of 5-2 on a Bourque kill and 10-5 before Newport got back into the game.

Jessie Heavenrich tied it at 10 and the game went back and forth until a Jansen and Lindsay Stephens block made it 17-15. A Jansen kill ended the game at 25-23.

In game five, neither side gained more than a one-point edge until Alexandra Wright and Alena Ransom teamed up for a block that made it 8-6 Emory.

Bolstered by the separation, Emory grew the lead and rolled to the 15-11 win.

"They girls knew that Newport was focusing a lot on (Amelia) McCall (the NCAA Division III player of the year)," McDowell said. "We had some other girls definitely step up for us when we needed it."